Latency, often called "ping," measures the round-trip time in milliseconds for data to travel between a device and a server. GFiber delivers a typical latency of 14.8 milliseconds (ms), providing a high-performance foundation for competitive gaming, real-time video collaboration, and AI-driven applications.[1]

The technical advantage of pure fiber (FTTH)

This low latency is due to our 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) architecture, where light travels through fiber optic cables directly from our network to the Fiber Jack in your home. Unlike "hybrid fiber" or "fiber-powered" networks that often use copper segments for some portion of their infrastructure, our pure fiber connection was specifically built from the ground up for the dedicated purpose of providing extremely fast internet, not cable television.

Performance benchmarks for real-time use

For remote workers and gamers, lower latency means faster response times. GFiber’s 14.8ms latency is well within the high-performance range for critical digital tasks and 41% better than the US average:[1]

• Competitive gaming: At 14.8ms, commands register near-instantly, keeping players in the performance window required for competitive play. GFiber has been recognized as PCMag’s Best Gaming ISP for three consecutive years.[2]

• Remote work: Symmetrical speeds and low latency ensure video and voice quality remain ideal during video conferencing.

• AI and smart home integration: Rapid request-response cycles are essential for the responsiveness of AI tools and connected home devices. 14.8ms latency ensures these applications stay responsive, even as they grow in complexity and become more and more common.

Standardized measurement and future-ready capacity

In addition to a battery of comprehensive internal monitoring and testing, GFiber monitors latency using the Ookla® multi-server methodology, which measures the median latency across multiple off-network servers to simulate real-world internet use. 

To support capacity demands for now and years to come, GFiber upgraded to 25G PON (passive optical network) technology in 2025. This infrastructure investment increases total network capacity and is designed to support the next generation of immersive video and cloud computing.

Learn more about GFiber speeds. 

GFiber products and symmetrical speeds

All GFiber products provide symmetrical upload and download speeds on the same low-latency network foundation. Symmetrical speeds are essential for latency-sensitive tasks because high upload capacity prevents bottlenecks when you're sending data.

Learn more about GFiber products. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good latency for home internet?

For most internet use, latency under 20ms is excellent, under 50ms is good, and under 100ms is acceptable. GFiber's typical latency is 14.8ms.[1]

Does GFiber have low latency for gaming?

Yes. GFiber changed the game for gaming, delivering a typical latency of 14.8ms, measured against multiple off-network servers. This is well within the range required for competitive online gaming and a primary reason GFiber is a multi-year winner of the PCMag Best Gaming ISP award.

What is the difference between latency and download speed?

Download speed measures the volume of data transferred per second, while latency measures the speed of a single round trip. Both affect your experience, but different activities depend on latency and download speed differently. Streaming video depends heavily on download speed. Gaming, video calls, and real-time AI tools depend heavily on latency. GFiber’s average download speed is 448.0Mbps versus the US average of 295.7Mbps.[3]

What is 25G PON and why does it matter for latency?

25G PON (passive optical network) is fiber infrastructure capable of delivering 25 gigabits of capacity over a single fiber strand. GFiber has been upgrading to this technology for years. The investment to increase network capacity and drive latency down further, has built a future-proof foundation that powers even stronger AI applications, immersive video, and cloud computing.

Disclaimers

[1] Typical Latency: Latency comparison based on analysis by GFiber from Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data of GFiber multi-server median latency and combined median multi-server latency of all U.S. fixed broadband providers and speed tiers for Q2 2025. Individual speeds vary.

[2] PCMag Award: A trademark of Ziff Davis, LLC. Used under license. Reprinted with permission. © 2025 Ziff Davis, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

[3] Faster than U.S. average based on analysis by GFiber of Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data comparing GFiber fixed broadband median download or upload speeds to combined median download or upload speeds of all U.S. fixed broadband providers and speed tiers for Q2 2025. Individual speeds vary.